It probably dates to the 1880s. This color combination was quite popular then and much less popular in the 1890s, when red, blue, black and white combinations were the most common color combinations in quilts. Why? Synthetic fabric dyes for black and blue were being attempted in various shades starting in the 1880s. Red synthetic dyes began much earlier. Many of the synthetic dyes were not colorfast for nearly two decades.The red were not from the 1870s through to 1920. Why 1920? Because America finally figured out how to make excellent cotton dyes because of WWI, when they were unable to import their dyes from Germany. Proving once again that necessity IS the mother of invention.
Detail photo of this quilt's double pink fabric.
This is my scrap basket quilt. The basket is made with a madder print with a white and brown/black motif, 1870-1890 . Many of the double pinks are lighter in color than the RPtoPP, but they vary. The background of the block is a nice muslin fabric, the green has yellow motifs on it. The yellower center of the quilt is a reflection of the blue dye fading from the green leaving more yellow. The picture quality is so low you can't see the variety of fabrics and true colors. It sings pinks and greens.
Hi Kim: Great to run across your blog - have two myself and find it fascinating to read others.
ReplyDeleteI checked into your website this evening as I had had an enquiry by someone writing a book who had found the reference to that old article we co-authored. Good luck with the blog - just reading through it now.
Janet in snowy and cold Nova Scotia